TRAVEL: 21 PLACES IN 2 DAYS -- ILOCOS NORTE

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Located in the northwest corner of Luzon island, Ilocos Norte is one of the uppermost regions in the country. With Laoag as its capital, it can be reached via a 45-minute flight (Philippine Airlines or Cebu Pacific), 10 to 12 hours bus ride (I opted for Partas) or by private vehicle. This coastal region boasts of sand, beaches, rock formations and flavorful cuisine among others.

And since I already did my Ilocos Sur trip a year ago, I decided to meet up with K one weekend last July (who's doing his Ilocos tour during that time) to finally complete Ilocos Region and check it off my travel list.

Tricycle was our mode of transportation going around these places. (You can check out more details about this HERE)

Here's what we managed to see, do and eat for one weekend:

1. LAOAG: Sinking Bell Tower

 Built in 1612 by Augustinian Friars, this once 45-meter bell tower can no longer be accessed by an ordinary man because the tower has sunk considerably and evenly.
the entrance now fit for a hobbit

















2. LAOAG: Provincial Capitol Building and Abolition of Tobacco Monopoly marker

 The seat of government of the region can be found along JP Rizal Street and just across is the Abolition of Tobacco Monopoly marker. This landmark commemorates the lifting of tobacco monopoly in the Philippines in accordance with the royal decree from King Alfonso XIII. However, tobacco is still one of the major crops of the province.

There's also a park separating the Capitol Building and the Tobacco marker.




3. LAOAG: Museo Vivo de Ilocos

Adjacent to the Monopoly marker,
bonsai-aficionados will be delighted
in this well-sculpted garden. Stroll around, breathe in fresh air and just a few steps to the back you'll reach the Tabacalera complex.


4. LAOAG: La Tabacalera 


 Just right beside the Museo Ilocos Norte, this lifestyle complex boasts of a handful of restaurants, boutique shops and a bookstore. The ironwork outdoor ceiling lends a nice contrast to the old structure beside it.

5. LAOAG: Museo Ilocos Norte 


 Worth a visit especially if you're a history buff or just want to know more about the Ilocano heritage. Located at the Tabacalera complex.




6. Paoay Church

Also known as Saint Augustine Church/Parish, this stands as a monument of more than 200 years of Christianity in Ilocos. Constructed from 1694 to 1719, this church is one of the four Baroque-style Churches that have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list.

After exploring the church, you can walk around in the garden at the left side.

the famous buttresses

 7. BATAC: Ferdinand Marcos Presidential Center (Marcos Museum and Mausoleum)

Said to be the ancestral home of the late President Ferdinand Marcos, this houses a museum and a mausoleum at the adjacent building. There is an entrance fee for the museum as well as museum guides inside to usher you through the galleries which showcases Marcos' life from his childhood to his presidency.

Inside the mausoleum is where you'll find the late president's body covered in wax inside a glass case. No pictures are allowed inside.




8. PAOAY: Malacanang of the North

 One of the many Marcos residences, this property overlooks Paoay Lake and was converted into a museum after the Marcos regime. This serves as the former First Family's residence when they are in Ilocos. The mansion resembles a 19th century bahay na bato. Open from 9 AM to  PM from Tuesday to Sunday. Entrance fee of 20 Php.


9. LAOAG: La Preciosa


We were lucky we got a table easily as this restaurant-cum-cafe (formerly a house) is quite popular among tourists and locals alike. Located along Rizal street, this is not far from the city center and is easily discernible because of its colorful facade. Read more about our La Preciosa experience HERE.







10. PAGUDPUD: Kabigan Waterfalls
After going around places of historical importance, go for a change of scenery and be one with nature in the approx 30 min/2 km hike to this enchanting waterfalls that has a concave basin. See more pictures and info here: SNAPSHOTS: Kabigan Waterfalls.







11. PAGUDPUD: Patapat Viaduct
Sandwiched between the mountain and the sea, this coastal bridge connecting Laoag to Cagayan Valley is one sight to behold. Said to be the 4th longest bridge in the country, this elevated highway winds the side of the Cordillera Mountain Range. Just be wary of incoming vehicles for your safety.




12. PAGUDPUD: Agua Grande and Paraiso ni Anton


 These two sights can be found right after Patapat. Agua Grande is a picnic park where the river meets the sea and Paraiso ni Anton has three mini waterfalls which are believed to be miraculous and has healing powers.





13. PAGUDPUD: Timmangtang Rock


 Located along the shore and partly by the sea, this bell-shaped rock formation is said to be the male partner of Bantay-Abot. The two are collectively termed as 'Lover's rock'.




14. PAGUDPUD: Bantay Abot Cave
Just a few meters from Timmangtang Rock, Bantay Abot is literally a mountain with a hole (Ilocano translation of Bantay Abot). Shaped by the sea, wind, nature and time, this attraction is also called the 'underground sea'.

15. PAGUDPUD: Blue Lagoon


 Also known as Maira-ira Point, the sand at this beach may not be the whitest or the finest but you'll surely be amazed by the azure colored waters. There are a variety of accommodations as well as activities to choose from if you want to stay overnight - from homestays to luxury resorts.


16. PAGUDPUD: Dos Hermanos Islands

 Another natural landmark, this twin rock formation is best seen from afar. Make sure to ask the locals where the name came from.
17. Bangui Wind Farm

As part of the initiative of Ilocos Region to be eco-friendly and self-reliant in their energy sources, these 70 meters tall wind turbines were constructed in 2005 along the shoreline fronting West Philippine Sea. These were also the first in Asia and currently supplies around 70% of the province's energy requirements.
Best not to wear flipflops as the sand could get very hot especially near midday!


 18. BURGOS: Cape Bojeador Lighthouse 


 Built in 1892 on a hill overlooking the West Philippine Sea, this still functioning Lighthouse is said to be the tallest and oldest lighthouse in the country. According to the guide, a few local horror films were also shot in this location.





19. Bangui Viewdeck

Located along the highway, this elevated view deck gives you an aerial view of the Bangui Windmills together with the surrounding scenery.

20. BURGOS: Kapurpurawan Rock Formation 

This natural rock formation created by natural forces sits on the rocky coast of Burgos. It got its name from the Ilokano word 'puraw' meaning white, pertaining to the rock formation's color. Can be reached by foot or by horseback riding.



21. LAOAG: Saramsam Ylocano Resaurant


 Also located near the city centre, this restaurant offers an eccentric and bohemian interiors and serves authentic and fusion Ilocano dishes. More on Saramsam HERE.







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Travel: What to buy in Banaue

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Going on trips or vacations usually entail buying souvenirs or pasalubong for our family, friends or loved ones. I, myself, makes it a point to buy a ref magnet in every place I go to. Before I went to Banaue and Batad, I had no idea what else can be bought there aside from Tapuy (rice wine), keychains and tshirts. :)

So to help you with your souvenir shopping, here are some new items that you can bring home and where we saw them:

1. Coop near the wet market - after going down the pink stairs from the Tourist Information Center, turn right and in the corner facing the wet market, you will find this small coop store where you can find an assortment of Ifugao products to buy like Mountain Tea Leaves, Ifugao coffee, Ginger tea (powder), Herbal tea, Tapuy, tourist map, shirts and handicrafts.

Behind the shelf with Mountain Tea and Ifugao Coffee is a Tour Map


Ifugao Midland Coffee and Taronut Cookies

Tinawon rice and ground organic coffee

one of a kind cards made by the Ifugao and more keychains

2. Main Viewpoint souvenir shops - go shop-hopping around the souvenir shops at the main viewpoint and you'll be overwhelmed by the plethora of things you can buy, most of which are considered normal pasalubong items like keychains, shirts, kitchen items, handicrafts, ref magnets, etc.

souvenir shop facing the Banaue Rice Terraces

assortment of keychains for 15 Php each

some of the keychains are made from Kamagong wood



Headdresses for rent or for sale


More shops lining the streets going to the Mian Viewpoint
And of course, I wouldn't go home without buying my ref magnetst, both of which I bought at the souvenir shop of Uyami Restaurant.



The Taronut cookies turned out to be a hit and we actually the bought the bulk of it on the shops near the coop, just past the wet market. Price per box varies from Php 60 - 65.

What do you usually buy for souvenir or pasalubong? :)

Until next time!



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TRAVEL: Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort Day Tour

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This year's Maundy Thursday schedule was a day tour of Villa Escudero Plantation and Resort to experience the country life and to get a breather from the hustle and bustle of the metro. 

 Reservation is not compulsory as they accommodate walk-ins but if you are planning on going during a holiday it's better to give them a call rather than using the online reservation form as it is faster. Surprisingly, we still paid the P1250 rate instead of P1400 even though Maundy Thursday is a declared holiday. They open at 8 AM and it's better to go in early so that you can have the place almost to yourselves.

 The 2-hour drive mentioned in the website turned into 3 hours due to the holy week traffic rush at SLEX and Sto. Tomas, Batangas. The entrance to this coconut plantation and hacienda is located just after the Quezon arch. You can commute as it is easy to find but during the holidays it's better if you bring your own transportation. Directions can be found in their website too.
the dirt road leading where you can see lots of coconut trees along the way

a scenery of the rural life will greet you outside the reception hall
inside the reception hall
Sago't gulaman was served as the welcome drink and the ticket included carabao cart rides, lunch at the waterfalls, entrance to the AERA museum and use of outdoor recreational facilities like the pool, bamboo raft, fishing, etc.  


Sadly we didn't get to experience the cultural show as they were preparing for the procession for Good Friday. We were also supposed to do an overnight stay but by the time we scheduled our reservation, the lodgings were all fully booked. During the day, we also didn't see the colorful jeepney mentioned in the website.

 First stop was the AERA museum which was just across the reception, through a covered walkway. It was amazing to see an old BLTBCo bus parked beside it (and it's still in good working condition though a bit dusty) as well as an old plane and old weaponry in the overlooking garden. 
posted just outside the museum
 

As stated in their website:
The AERA Memorial Museum, founded by spouses Arsenio and Rosario Escudero, houses one of the largest collections in the country, unmatched in its eclectic diversity. Housed in a replica of a long-gone church in Intramuros with painted trompe-l'oeil ceilings, the present building opened for viewing in 1987. The core of the collection is its trove of colonial religious art. The superbly executed silver altars, gilded carrozas, ivory santos, embroidered vestments and intricately carved inages and bas-reliefs and tableaux, most dating from the Spanish colonial era are a testimony to the artistry and piety of the Filipino. Reflecting a lifetime of dedicated collecting and the wide-ranging interest of the Escudero couple, there are also extensive collections of Oriental ceramics, natural history and ethnographic dioramas, costumes, household furniture, weaponry and many other items of interest collected in their travels around the world.
Big bags and packages were required to be checked in at the baggage counter at the entrance and no photography is allowed. They even have a warning stating that there are CCTV cameras installed inside. This saddened me a bit but I did understand why once we get inside the museum. 

 Truly a collection indeed! We started off at the left side which housed taxidermy of different species of animals as well as different shell and insect species to name a few. If I remember it correctly, the statue at the end of the hallway is of Christ the King. At the hallway going to the right side, there were different  religious artifacts as well as vestments and an old wooden door. The right hallway boasts of different paintings as well as dioramas. On the second floor, my mom was so fascinated with Don Arsenio's love letters to Charing (Donya Rosario) since most of them were handwritten and beautifully preserved. The letters were pretty detailed and can give you a glimpse of their life back then. 

 Moving on to the right side of the upper floor, there was even an old US diving apparatus and a ship made out of cloves! Then rows and rows of pottery, ceramics and Chinaware. The left side housed silverwares, a cane used by the Hermana Mayor, different clothing from history (as well as different presidents and notable people) and even very small items like the smallest peacock figurine I've ever seen as well as miniature dining sets (I admit I've been a fan of these ever since I've received one when I was a child). And just before you head back down, there's even a collection of Jose Rizal's letters enclosed in glass.

 The staff at the baggage counter said that it would just be a 10-15 minutes tour but that was definitely an understatement for me especially since I'm a history fan. 

 BTW, you can get your pictures taken by the resort's official photographers (they're wearing Villa Escudero tshirts so you won't miss them) and have it printed for a fee of P150 each photo. It's not compulsory to buy the photos though so don't worry.

 Beside the museum is the Plantation House painted in the same shade of pink as the museum. The house is off-limits but you can have your photos taken with the statue and marker in front. 

Next is the Carabao Cart Ride. We got the pleasure of riding with Mutya, a very healthy water buffalo (unlike the malnourished ones you usually see in rice farms nowadays), and three Escudero staffs (one is the driver, one guitarist and a folk singer). 

enjoy the carabao cart ride with a serenade of folk songs
oh hey you beautiful bird
relaxin, the carabao way

 The ride ended at the entrance of the resort where you can see a playground and a covered pathway. The left leads to the restaurant, the lake, pool and villas and the right side will lead you to the waterfalls restaurant. We definitely picked the waterfalls restaurant first but forgot that it doesn't open until 11am so we decided to shoot the breeze over at the left side.





The Labasin waterfalls was very fascinating in a way that it is man-made and because Don Arsenio was the first to build the country's working hydro-electric plant. 



The food however was not that spectacular and not because they were serving Filipino food. I've had my fair share of good Filipino food from our different provinces and I guess I was just expecting them to showcase food specialties from Laguna and Quezon. Stomach was still pretty satisfied though. 

 There were two buffet stations and it's better to go to the the other one since the line is shorter even if it's a challenge for me to walk in very cold and fast running water with a plate and bowl full to the brim without spilling a drop. We had to change tables midway because of the searing heat and ended up eating in the covered area where you can still get a view of the falls and is near the hand wash sink. This is the most popular attraction and we definitely had lots of family and solo pictures here just like the other tourists.


it's been so long since I've seen a dragonfly!

 Since I don't know how to swim, I didn't dare try the pool. I wanted to try the bamboo raft but fear got the best of me as well as the long line so the little brother and I just settled for the fishing. We paid P100 for the bamboo pole rental (thought that was included in the amenities, but no) and the bait. Unfortunately, since the tilapias were too far away only the small fishes near the edges were the ones attracted by the bait. They were very small biters so we failed in catching a fish this time. Ha!



guardian of Labasin
We also tried the halo-halo at the restaurant for merienda (little brother ordered chocolate milkshake) and it was surprisingly good but had my mom finish it since I'm not really a fan of halo-halo. 


The ride back still took 3 hours due to traffic near the toll at Sto. Tomas Batangas. 

 All in all, it was an enjoyable and refreshing trip but I felt that the entrance fee would be worth it only if you get to do most of the other activities mentioned in the site. It was still worth seeing though. Impeccable service and hospitality by the staff too. :)


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